Please welcome Aliyah Marr, author of Parallel Mind, The Art of Creativity. Aliyah will be chatting on LibraryThing until September 11th.

Welcome to my author's chat. Some of you have my book, via the giveaway. I invite you to discuss the book and creativity in general.

In my "other" life I am a Life Path coach and Creative Projects Advisor, which means that I help people with their creative goals in their life or business. Parallel Mind, The Art of Creativity explores some of the basic concepts of how creative development can help in all aspects of one's life.

I also invite you to follow my postings on Twitter -- daily quotes from the book: http://twitter.com/ParallelMind

And my blog/newsletter: http://parallelmind.wordpress.com

Aliyah Marr

"What do you want to create today?"

Hi Aliyah

I'm sorry, I haven't read your book, but I am interested in it. I would love to be able to write stories, especially children's stories, but I don't know how to get into a creative mood. When I was young and had small children I was creative in finding things for them to do, but seem to have lost the touch a bit. How did you get into your field as a Life Path coach and what was your motivation?

Thanks,
Betty

How did you get into your field as a Life Path coach and what was your motivation?"

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That is a great question! My book is all about how to create and nurture the "mood of the artist." Remember when you played with your children? Do you remember how it seemed that sometimes they taught you? Essential things like how to see the world, how to find joy in simple things, how to be messy, etc. Well, that is the essence of how to find your muse again. Think like a child.

Life Path Coaching evolved from the things that I talk about in my book. My book taught me how to be a life coach by using the tools that art making naturally provides: expression of emotions, listening to your intuition, finding joy in simple things, etc. Life Path Coaching is a natural expression and summation of various talents and life skills for me. I have been a design professor, a gymnastics coach, a creative director for Fortune 100 companies, an artist, and a writer.

I love how I can bring so many diverse talents and skills into play when a client needs it. For instance, I have one client who is writing a book. I help him stay on track (he has ADD) and help him organize his thoughts and help him with his marketing efforts.

Another client is making a career transition and building a new business and website. She needs help with the business aspects of her life: design, communication, marketing, social networking, advertising, etc. which are all skills I possess. So my advice is crucial to her new life. But, she is a highly creative individual who is often overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that her project entails.

She has to learn a lot quickly about marketing on the web. While she has many skills and talents, she suffers from creative block even when she gets to do something in which she normally excels, like writing. So, as a coach, my job is to listen to her, like a caring physician, and prescribe the right creative medicine. My first prescription was for her to "go out and play." I gave her instructions on the form and nature of that play. When she returned from her weekend of unrestricted creative fun, her whole voice and demeanor had changed. She had relaxed. She finished the next week empowered, and more efficient in all her tasks.

My motivation in helping people who want to be more creative is that I truly believe that we are all naturally creative, and finding full expression of our creativity is so joyful that I want to share it with the world! It is a great feeling when I feel that I have helped someone find this kind of fulfillment in their lives. Really, I am only a messenger, I am only a coach who helps each client find their own way through the practice of art. The joy is theirs, their success is theirs. I am only there to witness it and encourage them.

One good way to start is to sign up for my free newsletter on how to use creativity for personal development. It follows whatever I post in my blog:

http://parallelmind.wordpress.com

My book is available online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble:

http://www.parallelmindbook.com

If you want a signed copy of my book, email me, I will invoice you via Paypal and I will send the book to you via snail mail. The print version is $20.00 inclusive of shipping.

parallelmindbook@ at gmail.com

(All my Life Path clients get a signed copy of my book if they don't already have a copy.)